Electrical indicator and  control



Dec. 19, 1939. Y B PEDERSEN 2,183,584

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR AND CONTROL MEANS FOR IMPURITIES IN SOLUTION FiledJan. 23, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r A I a B. PEDERSEN 2,183,584

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR AND CONTROL MEANS FOR IMPURITIES IN SOLUTION Dec.19, 1939.

Filled Jan. 23, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. PEDERSEN Dec. 19, 1939.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 23, 1936 Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITEDSTATES ()FFZCE Bjarne Pedersen, West New York, N. J.

Application January 23, 1936, Serial No. 66,525

1 Claim.

My electrical indicator is adapted by slight changes in the wiring planto utilize any source of electric current, either A. C. or D. C.

It may be well to state at the outset that under ordinary circumstancesonly one side of the line from the source of electric power is utilized.It is believed to be generally known that commercial electric power,whether A. C. or D. C., is grounded at the generating station. Thisbeing the case, I utilize an indirect connection with the ground as thereturn path for the current I use for the operation of my testingdevice.

This electrical indicator may be utilized for innumerable tests where itis desirable to ascertain the amount of impurities in a solution whichis to be tested. Thus far I have utilized my testing device inconjunction with a laundry machine to determine when the solution withinthe washing wheel has reached a point of impurity so that the watershould be changed. It would be diilicult to specifically state all ofthe various uses to which my testing device may be applied, butgenerally speaking, it at present seems positive that my testing devicemay be used in any 25. solution which necessitates repeated testing toascertain whether or not the solution is in proper condition for use, orto indicate the amount of impurities which are in a given solution. Forexample it may be used in paper mills, dye works, 30 water works (bothfor water supply and for sewerage), power plant boilers, and in generalmedical science where testing is to be done.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic wiring plan of my5 preferred form of electrical indicator;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic wiring plan showing a slightly modifiedcircuit;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic wiring plan showing the use of a contact discadapted to be utilized 40 in conjunction with a plurality of relays foropcrating electric valves for controlling fluids in several tanks orpipes;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the contact disc; Fig. 5 is across-section of a contactor through 45 which current passes into asolution being tested;

and

Fig. 6 is a disassembled view of the contactor shown in Fig. 5.

In the wiring plan shown in Fig. 1, I utilize an 50 ordinary wire 2,which is adapted to be attached to one side of a conventional direct oralternating current outlet. This wire 2 is connected to the filament ofa light which light is attached on the shell side thereof to a wire 6 55which is attached to a special switch 9, adapted for turning the currenton or off, and for connecting different circuits.

The switch 9 is provided with four separate contact points 5, 3, 5, and7. From the contact point I provide a wire which is connected 5 with theshell side of a light 18. A wire l6 extends from the filament of thelight l8 to a specially constructed contact-or 2-8 (which will be morefully described hereinafter) mounted in a pipe coupling 24. One post ofa suitable volt 10 meter or volt recorder I2 is connected to the "ir itwhile the other post of the volt meter [2 i connected by a suitable wire54 to the wire l6.

It will be obvious by following this wiring plan that the lights l andI3 are in series between the 15 source of supply of electricity and thecontactor 20, which is in indirect contact with the ground through asolution which is within the coupling The volt meter 52 is in a shuntfield around the light I8. 20

The solution within the couplin 24 is supplied thereto the couplingbeing mounted on any tank which may contain the fluid to be tested, andit will be UIldGIStOOd that inasmuch as pure water is a poor conductorof electricity, very 25 little, if any, electricity will flow throughthe circuit when the solution within the coupling 24 is As solutionwithin the coupling 24 becomes impure, current will flow through the cicuit igniting the lights 4 and l8 dimly and showing a relatively lowreading on the volt meter l2. As inipiuities are added to the solutionthe contact between the contactor 20 the coupling subsequently theground, will become more perfect, and consequently the lights i and 53will burn with more brilliance and the reading on the volt meter l2 willbe higher.

The reason for this change in the intensity of the lights 3 and i8, andthe reading on the volt meter if. is that as the solution within thecouplin-g E l becomes more impure a greater conductivity is set uptherein, and the flow of current will increase, thus causing the lights4 and I8 to increase in brilliancy and the reading on the volt meter toincrease as more electricity flows through the circuit.

Of course, it will be understood that when a test of the solution withinthe coupling 24 is to be made the switch 9 will be in contact witheither the contact point I, 3, 5, or I.

The above described circuit will utilize the lights 5 and 58 and thevolt meter l2, in making a test of the solution within the coupling 24.

Other tests of the solution may be made by changing the position of theswitch 9 to connect other circuits.

If the switch 9 is placed in contact with the contact point 3, while thewire 2 is connected to one side of a conventional current outlet, thecurrent will then flow through a wire 26 to the filament of a light 28.Since the shell side of the light 28 is connected by the wire 30 to theshell side of the light IS, the current will pass therethrough to thewire l6 and consequently through the contactor 2i) and the solutionwithin the coupling 24 to the ground. This circuit will utilize thelights 4, l8 and 28, as well as the volt meter l2.

By using a wire 32, which, like the wire 2 may be connected to one sideof a conventional current outlet, and by placing the switch 9 in contactwith the contact point i, the current will flow through the wire 34 tothe light l8 and consequently through the wire it to the contactor 20within the coupling 24. This test will utilize only one light, the lightit. Since the volt meter i2 is in a shunt field around the light i8, itwill be obvious that the volt meter will also function.

The contact 5 is connected by the wire 36 to the contactor 38 positionedwithin the coupling 24 and is thus indirectly connected with the ground.It will be obvious from the wiring plan that when the switch 9 is incontact with the contact point 5 and the source of supply of electricityis from the wire 2, the current will flow through the light 4, thecontactor 38, and the solution in the coupling 24 to the ground, and thelight 4 only will be in the circuit. Hence the brilliancy of the light 4will be dependent on the impurities in the solution.

It may readily be seen that by the use of the switch 9 and either thewire 2 or 32 several different circuits may be utilized. The possiblecircuits being as follows; the light 4 alone; the lights 4 and H8 andthe volt meter E2; the lights 4, l8, and 28 and the volt meter; thelight l8 and the volt meter; or the lights l8 and 28 and the volt meter.

In Fig. 2, I have shown a slightly modified wiring plan which is adaptedfor only one possible circuit with the wire 2 being connected with oneside of a source of supply of electricity from a conventional outlet.The reference characters for Fig. 2 correspond with those in Fig. 1,except that in this circuit I utilize a conventional switch 8 in placeof the special switch 9.

This modified and simplified form of my device is well adapted to manyuses when it is not necessary to make several different tests of thesolution being tested.

I have shown a cross-section through the contactor 28 or 2i, in Fig. 5,and have shown a disassembled view thereof in Fig. 6. This contactorconsists of a tube 42 of suitable insulating material which is providedwith screw threads at both ends thereof. Within the tube 42, I haveplaced a contacting element 44, which is preferably made of eithercarbon or of a magnetized metal. One end of this contact element 44 isflared out as at 46, and is adapted to be held in contact with ametallic button flit, which is preferably made of copper and is providedwith an outstanding projection 50, which projection passes through asuitable hole in the nut 52 which is made of insulating material. Theprojection 50 is adapted to be connected in any suitable manner to thewire it, 36, 14, or 19.

After the contacting element 20 has been 'assembled, as above described,and as shown in Fig. 5, it is placed within the coupling 24, asdiagrammatically shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The purpose of this contactor being made in the manner above described,is that the contacting element 44 is positioned within the tube 5 42, sothat it is held a substantial distance away from any metallic portion ofthe coupling 24. Consequently any current which flows from thecontacting element 44 to the coupling 24, and subsequently to theground, must pass a con- 10 siderable distance through the solutionwithin the coupling 24. This arrangement assures that a directconnection will never be made with the ground, and therefore the flow ofthe current will at all times be dependent upon the solution 15 withinthe coupling 24. It will be understood that a testing of the impuritiesin the solution may readily be made by studying the brilliancy of eitherthe light 4, or the lights 4 and I8, or 4, l8 and 28, or l8 and 28 andthe volt meter I2. 20 It will be understood that when the switch 9 is incontact with the contact point 5 the volt meter will not be connected inthe circuit, and will consequently remain at a zero reading.

It is to be understood that there is no return 25 path for theelectricity, and therefore the resistance of the filaments of the lightswill be equal to the voltage indicated on the meter and will determinethe brilliancy of the lights. If the conductivity set up within asolution should 30 at any time become greater than the conductivity ofthe filaments of the lights, the lights would merely burn out and act inthe same manner as a fuse. Such a possibility is quite remote.

As I have shown in Fig. 3, I have adapted my 35 testing device to beutilized with a separate automatic control for controlling the necessaryvalves and connections to regulate the flow of different fluids into thecontainer in which the fluid being tested is located.

The arrangement which I have shown in Fig. 3 is adapted to be usedprimarily for alternating current but may be used with direct currentalso. In this circuit, I connect one side of the source of supply to thewire 60, which wire is provided 45 with a switch 82, and is connectedwith the filament of a light 64 by the wire 65, from the shell side ofwhich the wire 66 extends to a two-phase relay which is diagrammaticallyrepresented within the circle 68. provide a wire 10, connected with theshell side of a light 12, the filament of which is connected to a wire14. The opposite end of the wire 14 is connected to a contactor 18,similar to the contactors described above. on this wire 34, andconsequently is in shunt across the light 72. The contactor TI issecured within the coupling 24 in the same manner as the contactor l6,and is connected directly by a wire 79 to the wire 80 which extends tothe other side 60 of the source of supply. With this circuit arranged inthe above described manner, it is the same as the circuits describedabove, with the exception of the relay 68, taking the place of the voltmeter 40. (It will be understood that the 5 wire l9 may be dispensedwith entirely if desired.)

The two-phase relay 68, is adapted to utilize a low voltage when such avoltage passes through the solution being tested. As the voltage in- 70creases the relay becomes energized and the magnet thereof pulls thepivoted switch 18, and thereby makes a contact between the contact point8|, on the wire 82, and the contact point 84 on the wire 86.

Spliced to this wire 66, I 0-.

The relay 68, is spliced The wire 82 is spliced to the wire 65, and isthereby connected to one side of the source of supply through the switch62, and the wire (ill.

The wire 86 is connected with an arm 88, which is provided with acontact point 99 at the outer end thereof. The arm 88 is mounted on asuitable device which rotates the arm at a predetermined speed and makesthe contact point 99 revolve about the disc of insulating material 92,and progressively come into contact with the several contact points 94.

These several contact points 94 are suitably connected with a pluralityof relays which may be adapted to work similarly to the relay 58, butwhich are not shown. The return wires from these several relays areattached to a suitable contact member 96, and through. that member 96 tothe wire 89, and thence to the other side of the source of supply. Thecurrent being supplied to these relays being entirely separate from thecurrent passing through the lights 84 and 12, the relay 68 and thecontactors I9 and 11.

It will be understood that the operation of this device is as follows:

The solution being tested will provide the means by which the contactor16 may be placed in contact indirectly with the ccntactor Ti, andthereby the lights 64 and 12 will be lighted and the relay 68 will beenergized to pull the switch 18 and make a contact between the points 8!and 84, thus connecting an external circuit with the clockworks operatedarm 88. The arm 88 is adapted to revolve around the insulation disc 92at a predetermined speed, and to make contact between the contact point99 of the arm 88 and the several contact points 9a in the insulatingdisc 92. These several contact points 94 are adapted to be connectedwith a plurality of relays, which relays are adapted to make thenecessary contacts to operate electric valves or other desirabledevices. While one wire to these relays is secured to the contact points94, the other wire therefrom will be suitably secured to the contactmember 96, and from that contact member to the wire and to the otherside of the source of supply.

I have described the relay 68 as being a twophase relay. By a two-phaserelay I means one which is adapted to commence its operation on the lowvoltage and yet which is adapted to continue to operate without injuryon a higher voltage. The reason for this is that when the solutionwithin the coupling 25 is weak a very low voltage is passingtherethrough, and after the solution is strengthened by the addition ofimpurities the voltage increases, the relay may operate.

I have used a voltmeter l2, in my several hookups because often it isdiflicult to see the slight changes in the brilliancy of the lights asthe impurities in the solution within the coupling change. The needle onthe voltmeter very readily shows slight chan es and therefore allows amore accurate reading of the increase of impurities in the solutionbeing tested.

t will be understood that 2. volt recorder may be substituted for thevoltmeter which I have shown, or any other electrical metering devicewhich will serve the same purpose.

Also it will be understood that I may utilize the synchronizer or relaysystem which is; shown in Fig. 3, with any of my circuits if theoccasion should arise. It also will be understood, of course, that atransformer may be interposed at any place between point of contact withthe source of supply, and the point where the current reaches either thelights or the voltmeter. It is not always necessary to utilize atransformer, in View of the fact that the full voltage of the source ofsupply may be used without injury to the device. The reason for using atransformer is merely to make the device more economical its operation.

I claim:

The combination of a coupling to be attached to a containing liquid, andinto which coupling the iquid from the t n-l; flows, and an electriccontact asse ac 1 incoming an insulating tube having a flird- .tconnection with the coupling at an angle which will permit the liquid tofreely enter the end of the tube 4 attached to the coupling, aconducting element fitted in the tube and extending throughout a partonly of the length of th latter whereby an open space is left at one endof the tube to receive liquid from the coupling, an outwardly extendingprojection, and a cap having hole therein through which the projectionextends, said cap embracing the projection and attached to the tube forholding the conducting element and projection in electrical contact.

BJARNE PEDERSEN.

